Monthly Archives: December 2015

Whiplash found favor with audiences in Japan and South Korea, where the low-budget pic earned $5 million and $11.5 million, respectively. Perhaps J.K. Simmons' dictatorial music teacher character struck a chord with Asian fans who themselves endured a similarly strict pedagogical approach in their youths.

[pause]

When Furious 7 snatched [China]'s all-time biggest box office crown in April and Jurassic World legged out to nearly the same heights as Ultron in June, the local market went into what one Western exec termed "a panic": Hollywood films were succeeding at a breakneck pace, while China had not had a movie of its own cross $150M since February. The traditional — and unofficial — summer blackout period was extended by several weeks to allow local fare to flourish and Hollywood to sit on the sidelines longer than in the past.

Monster Hunt, which was left in cinemas for about 60 days versus the 30 that Hollywood movies are allowed, beat F7's record on the Day 58.

In the wake of that, it was reported that screenings of Monster Hunt, as it limped to the finish line, were, as one person tells me, taking place every 15 minutes while empty but "sold out." The ticket fraud issue was raised. Producer Edko Pictures admitted to giving away $6.2M worth of tickets for "public welfare screenings" near the end of the film's run and acknowledged there were overnight and duplicate screenings. [source]

There's beginning a film in medias res, and then there's beginning a film with a main character turning face. Dare I say The Force Awakens could've used a prequel. Episode VII: New Order. Episode VIII: The Force Awakens.

Insta-bread.

Poe Dameron is a clunky name. His surname should be two syllables long – Poe Jackson. Poe Burnham.

If you've seen A New Hope, then The Force Awakens spoils itself. Same beats.

As soon as I learned that Han Solo is Kylo Ren's father, I knew that Han Solo was gonna die, and the amount of screen time that Harrison Ford received confirmed it. He's Episode VII's Obi-Wan Kenobi analogue.

I look forward to seeing ghost Han Solo, ghost Luke Skywalker, and ghost Kylo Ren at the end of Episode IX.

Is her name Rey or Reia? Asian Leia, heh.

Did they convert a planet into a Death Star or terraform a Death Star? Starkiller Ski Resort and Base.

Kyle: It's crazy to me that Finn has a big fight with an anonymous stormtrooper. Why is that not Phasma???

Venom C-3P0.

If the First Order has all but one section of the map, why not comb the missing section for Luke Skywalker?

A version of this film in which Rey doesn't encounter BB-8, the TIE fighter that Poe and Finn nick doesn't crash, Poe retrieves BB-8, the Resistance finds Luke, and Luke is again the lead of the series. Daisy Ridley was a red herring.

"From this moment forward, I decree, no more schnitzel or strudel." (Fargo, S02E10)

"An act of cruelty, remember?" (Fargo, S02E10)

"In the morning, we journey home to bathe in that warm champagne that is corporate praise." (Fargo, S02E10)

"Camus says knowing we're gonna die makes life absurd."
"Well, I don't know who that is, but I'm guessing he doesn't have a six year-old girl."
"He's French."
"Ugh, I don't care if he's from Mars. Nobody with any sense would say something that foolish. We're put on this earth to do a job, and each of us gets the time we get to do it. And when this life is over, and you stand in front of the Lord… Well, you try telling him it was all some Frenchman's joke." (Fargo, S02E10)

"Your husband, he said he was gonna protect his family no matter what, and I acted like I didn't understand, but…I do. It's the rock we all push – men. We call it our burden, but…it's really our privilege." (Fargo, S02E10)

RT: The Fargo finale had one hell of an Easter egg pointing back to s1 (Fargo, S02E10)

Fargo Season Grade: B+

"Cheekbones for days." (American Horror Story, S05E10)

"Mama smells appetizers." (American Horror Story, S05E10)

Iris' tribute video. (American Horror Story, S05E10)

"I wanted it to be a beacon of hope for my three followers on Instagram." (American Horror Story, S05E10)

The Knick Season Grade: C+

Robert Downey Sr. (Saturday Night Live, S41E09)

Patrice O'Neal character design (F Is For Family, S01E02)

Mohican Airlines ad (F Is For Family, S01E05)

Guest starring Joe Buck (F Is For Family, S01E05)

"Frank, this man earned this. Let him fuck on your car." (F Is For Family, S01E06)

J.J. Abrams shot at least one scene of [The Force Awakens] in full screen, 70mm IMAX, meaning IMAX is undoubtedly the best way to see the movie.

"As someone who really hasn't been the most vocal advocate of 3D, the strangest thing happened to me on this. I actually felt that there were things that were playing better in 3D. I had never felt that before. And if people have access to a theater that has laser projection, it is shockingly better."

AUSTIN – Pro-gun demonstrators staging a mock mass shooting near the University of Texas at Austin on Saturday were overwhelmed in number and ferocity by a large group of counter-protesters wielding dildos and machines that generated fart sounds. [source]